Redundancies not the only option for businesses in Covid crisis

Reordering shifts, implementing temporary lay-offs and cutting pay are all on the table, but there is first and foremost the human factor to consider

Any steps taken to place staff on lay-off or short-term working arrangements should be by agreement with them. Picture: Getty

A significant number of businesses are cutting headcount to counter the impact of falling sales due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Redundancies are not the only option when cutting costs, however.

Short-time, for example, is the term used where an employee who works less than half their contractual hours can claim some social welfare payments. Other possibilities include pay cuts and lay-offs.

Having a contractual right to take any of these steps makes them simpler from ...